Exotic Graphic Kit Installation Instructions

Here are the basic steps on installation from Exotic. Please Read this document completely from start to finish before beginning installation as all the information is pertinent. Exotic assumes no responsibility for damages cause by the use of these instructions. (Insurance stuff)

Exotic uses only the best vinyls. When properly installed, these films are permanent. Removal of the decals can be accomplished without damaging the surface. You must forcefully remove these permanent films. See Decal Removal for more information.

The Products: Exotic produces two types of custom decals and graphics: Cad Cut and/or Printed Cad Cut. Cad Cuts are delivered to the customer as a 3-layer product. The top masking (much like masking tape) keeps intricate vinyl shapes and letters pre-spaced for ease of installation. The backing paper protects the adhesive side until ready to install. And of course the center is the vinyl. The vinyl is a pressure sensitive material with an adhesive backing. The vinyls used for Cad Cuts are sheets of solid color. When you order multi-color decals, they are produced by layering the vinyls on top of one another. They will still act as one center piece to install. So yes all decals from Exotic are ready to install. No extra assembly required. Printed Cad Cuts are delivered to the customer as a 2-layer product. The top is the vinyl and the bottom is the backing paper which protects the adhesive side until ready for install. The top printed vinyl is protected by a gloss laminate (like a clear coat). This is to protect the ink from damage while in the elements and when cleaning.

Gather the Tools required:
1. Scissors
2. X-acto knife or razorblade
3. Standard tape measure or cloth tape measure
4. Heat gun or hair dryer
5. One or two-inch masking tape
6. Squeegee
7. Squeegee Sleeves (not required)

Work Area: Work in a dust-free area. To prevent scratching the surface during installation, avoid wearing clothes with buttons or exposed belt buckles. Temperature Requirements: air and application surface temperatures should be above 60 degrees F.

Wash your hands.

Surface Preparation: Remove everything possible that is in the area where you're going to apply the decals (nuts, bolts, fittings, whatever you can). It will make the job much easier. If removal of decals is necessary, see Decal Removal. All surfaces must be considered dirty and should be cleaned prior to the application of decals. Remove all adhesive residue, waxes, dirt, oil, bugs, etc. Exotic suggests Rapid Remover. Then clean with Rapid Prep. If area is basically clean, just use Rapid Prep. Alternate Method: Saturate a clean cloth (lint-free if possible) with a mixture of two parts water to one part Isopropyl Alcohol and wipe the surface. (cleaners such as Windex window cleaner may also be used.) Wipe the surface dry with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. Reinspect surface to assure that it's free of dirt, old adhesive or any other foreign substances, as all of these will show through the decal if not removed.

For Clear Coating: A commercial wax and grease remover should be used first. Scuff surface with fine scotch brite pad (white or gray), or 800 grit wet-or-dry. Scuff in one direction. Known clears that work: PPG and Sikkens. You should consult the painter for your final decisions.

Determine Locations: Decals are designed to fit into or onto a desired area. Depending of the design of the decal, some are fitted and go right into place without any trimming, while others are designed with some parts going off the edges or over spaces (gaps) in the surface. This is done so that some final trimming and tucking will give you the best results. Using masking tape, place all of your decals in their desired position first. To make this task easier sometime it is best to trim off the excess area around the actual decal. Trim to approximable one eighth inch from the edge of the decal. Once you have all of your decals positioned properly, there are several methods of installation. NOTE Pick a spot to measure from that you can use on both sides if applicable. This will keep your boat looking symmetrical.

Installation: Here's where different methods are used. Peel and Stick: This is not the preferred way to produce the desired final product, as it is hard to position things and you only get one attempt. Peel and Stick Wet Application: This method allows you the opportunity to reposition the decal if you're not satisfied with the positioning. However, with Cad Cut decals, after a few times on and off the vinyl will start to release from the premask and you will lose your positioning and have a big mess. If this starts to happen, stick it on ASAP! Registered Peel and Stick: Not suggested for the inexperienced installer but sometimes necessary to use if you need to put decals on and don't have ample time to wait to put your boat in the water, this is a method you can use. Registered Wet Application: is the suggested method of installation. This allows you to get everything where you want before you begin the installation. This is the easiest way to apply the decals. NOTE: When ever applying decals wet it's suggested to leave your boat in the sun as much as possible. (Place the decals facing the sun even if you have to prop up the side of the craft. Rotate your boat with the sun and switch sides every few hours) The slow baking of the decal is what cause the adhesive to bond. It's best to wait 24 to 72 hour before using your craft.

Application Instructions:


A. Use 1” or 2” (2.5-5cm) strips of masking tape to position vinyl decal in proper registry (position). *You can place tape where ever you need to for positioning.	B. Apply horizontal tape hinge at the top of the vinyl decal. Working the tape horizontally and applying the decal from top to bottom is the simplest. You can achieve the same desired results no matter which direction you work from.	C. Peel the liner half-way and bend it back to meet the edge of the premask. Keep exposed adhesive off surface.

D. Spray adhesive with Rapid Tac. An alternative to Rapid Tac is water and JOY Dishwashing Liquid Soap ONLY! (mix ½ part JOY to 99 ½ parts water) . NOTE: It’s best to start with the decals at the bottom. This lessens the chance of getting your other decals wet. Wetting can destroy the backing paper and make a mess of your decals and, yes, possibly ruin the decal.	E. Allow vinyl decal to drape. Always use firm squeegee pressure. Begin at top center. Pull down as far as half the squeegee’s width. Then work from side-to-side using a sweeping motion while slightly overlapping each time. While applying side-to-side be sure to keep the squeegee angled outward. This pushes the air out from under the Vinyl. If you stop squeegeeing, start back where the vinyl is already applied and continue the side-to-side motions. NOTE: If you angle the squeegee inward you will create major air bubbles.

F. Remove liner entirely. Keep exposed adhesive off substrate. Spray Rapid Tac* on substrate and adhesive area. *Or alternatively use the JOY solution.	G. Allow vinyl decal to drape. Using firm initial squeegee pressure, continue at top center and work down and outward to each edge of mask. Reference section E. H. Allow adhesive to bond (generally 15 to 30 minutes).	I. Remove premask at 180 degrees (pull back on itself). Spray mask with Rapid Tac or JOY solution. J. Resqueegee entire Vinyl Decal.

The Heat Gun Trick: (Hair dryer if you don't have a heat gun) This works unbelievably well with cad cut vinyls. This trick is used for two reasons removing wrinkles/creases and conforming the Vinyl to the shapes of what you're installing onto. To use the trick, it is best to remove the premask when possible.

1. Removing wrinkles/creases: Peel back the vinyl. You can just work the effected area. Make sure that none of the vinyl gets stuck to itself. With the heat gun, slowly go over the vinyl and like magic, the vinyl will slowly return to its original shape. Let stand for a minute or two before you attempt to reinstall the vinyl. You do not have to remove the entire decal if you only have a wrinkle in the edge.

2. Conforming the vinyl: Use one hand for tension and the other hand to squeegee down the vinyl. If the tension hand has difficulty providing adequate tension, use your squeegee hand to grab the heat gun and slowly apply heat. Heat top of exposed graphics with heat gun (try 2-5 seconds at a distance of 1"). You should see the tape relax (and feel it give ever so slightly). Proceed with installation and repeat as necessary. Warning: Too much heat and tension at the same time will distort the tape and cause an hourglass effect (a 2" wide stripe may hourglass down to 1.8" which is readily visible!)

Trimming overlaps or excess: After the application to the desired area is complete, tuck excess into corners or gaps in surface. If it overhangs a flat area pull taut and trim using the edge of the surface as your trim guide.

Care and Maintenance: Wash with soap and water. Use degreaser or heavier cleaner only where needed. Then we recommend Rapid Clear (a vinyl and plastic polish). Alternative: automotive wax.

Problems and Solutions:

Sharp Corners- You have four options:
1. Be extra careful when cleaning and waxing. Don't wipe cloth into a sharp corner.
2. Radius or trim the corner with a razor blade. Very light pressure is all that is required to cut this product if your blade is new.
3. Apply a small "dot" of clear nail polish over corner making certain to contact both vinyl and surface.
4. Clear coating.

Edge Peeling- (The vinyl does not just peel. This commonly occurs from the edge of the graphics being hit, breaking the bond between vinyl and surface.)

Cad Cuts -
1. Reapply using the heat gun trick
2. If step one fails, trim off the loose vinyl.

Printed Cad Cuts -
1. Trim off loose vinyl or laminate. Use clear stripe to re-seal edge. Apply the stripe half on the surface and half on the vinyl. (Suggested).
2. Seal-it Pen to seal the exposed edge.

Trouble Shooting Guide

Problems	Cause	Solution

Air Bubbles	Tape installed over too large an area in one sweep or tape accidentally contacted	Tape should only contact when squeegee contacts it

Wrinkles	Not enough tension	1. Increase tension 2. Use heat with tension

Wide sections starts to bunch up (Outer edges try to converge into the middle)	Incorrect installation motion; correct motion also acts to keep the vinyl spread apart.	1. Use practice stripes to perfect technique. 2. Increase tension 3. Use heat with tension

If you have problems, stop immediately (if you continue past the problem area too far, you will probably never recover). Slowly peel back contacted tape prior to the problem area. Apply some heat and try again. In all cases, you should be able to pull the tape back up several times and try again. After that, the clear top carrier will start to separate from the vinyl.